'Algeria' originates from the Arabic word 'al-Jazā'ir', which means 'the islands', referring to the four islands that lay off the country's coast before becoming part of the mainland.

'al-Jazā'ir' transformed into the French word 'Algérie', and eventually became the modern English word 'Algeria'.

Initially, it referred to the islands off the coast, but over time it evolved into the name of the entire country.